The Portland daily press., 1887-01-22
DISTRICT MINISTERIAL AssocIA-
TON.
Sketch of Bishop John M. Walden,
y. D.

Bishop Walden is one of the twelve Bish-
ops of the Methodist Episcopal church 1t
will be remembered that the Methodist
Church adopts the system of General Super
intendents or Bishops instead of the system
of diocesan bishoprics. So that every Bishop
of the Methodist church is a Bishop of the
whole church and not of particular diocese.
Hence while Bishop Walden's episcopal resi-
dence is in Cincinnati he is Bishop in
Maine as much as in Ohio, and will preside
at the Maine Conference and station the
ministers this coming spring. This leads
him to spend few weeks in the State at the
present time, becoming acquainted with the
ministers, the churches and the general
work Of Methodism throughout the State.
Bishop Walden was born in Lebanon,
Ohio, in 1881. He was brought up on farm,
but prepared for college by extra study by
the time he was Is. and graduated with
honor at 81. While in college he was con-
yerted and joined the Methodist church. He
was elected tutor in college upon graduation,
and taught two years. Subsequently he en-
tered journalism as correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial, and with his youth
Luz Nhenuoldoul anu Ills ItlOIul cpiilb nC
entered boldly into the campaign Of 1856 in
favor of John 9. Fremont. In 1857 he went
to Kansas and founded paper in the inter-
est of free State principles and helped to
shape the destiny of what has since proved
one of the foremost States in the Union.
The boldness of the Western editors prin-
ciples, the breadth and culture with which
he maintained them, his wisdom in winning
converts to the cause Of freedom, soon made
him leader in Kansas, and he was elected a
member of the Legislature and soon adj
vanced to the State SUPPLEMENTARY of
schools and called upon to originate the edu-
cational policy of the coming commonwealth
The church of his choice, however, was not
slow to recognize his talent and was earnest
ly calling him to her service. He was an
active Christian from his college days and
received license as local preacher in 1854
and in 1858 was admitted to the Cincinnati
Conference. He was soon called to the
leading Methodist churches in Cincinnati.
and was then made Presiding Elder. He
was sent by his conference as delegate to the
General Conference in 1868 and was elected
by the General Conference Book Agent for
the Western branch of the Methodist Book
Concern-an important literary and business
position, which he ably filed until he was
advanced to the bishopric by the General
Conference of 1884. Bishop Walden was
sent by his own conference as delegate to
each General Conference from 1868 to 1884,
and has thus had prominent part in shap-
ing the later polity Of the church. He is a
man Of great clearness of intellect, strength
OF viii, and OF fine executive ability These
qualities, with his varied experience and
culture, admirably fit him for the high posi-
ton to which he has been called in this
immense and growing denomination
Bishop Walden will attend the sessions of
the Portland District Ministerial Associa-
ton at Pine street church, Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday Of next week, and will later
visit the East Maine Conference.
The Methodist churches in the city are to
unite in services tomorrow during the day
and evening. A union love feast will be
held at Pine street church in the mornings
and Bishop Walden will preach at Congress
street in the afternoon, and at Chestnut
street in the evening.
The following will be the programme for
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday:
Monday evening-Preaching by w. S. Jones.
Iuesday mornlng-Prayer meeting, led by T..
Martin. -
Tuesday, ] 0 a: m.-Reports from churches.
Tuesday evening" Preaching by T. Gerrish
"Wednesday morning-Prayer meeting led by
NJ. B. Greenhalgh. -
Topics for Essays: L. Glass meetings-The Re-
latlon OF Them to the Spiritual Life and Growth
Of the Church, i. Luce, X. Atkinson, j. Cobb, r.
l. Adams, :; Brown, A; w. Waterhouse; O. Glass
meetings-How Best Conducted, j. A. Corey, e.
w Barber, 9. Z: Bisbee, A. Hamilton, w. p Mer-
fuence upon the General Missionary Work. G.
Munger d. B. Randall, s. f. Wether6ee, Perry
Chandler, w. +. Marshall; A. The Duty of the
Pastor to non-church-goers, j. w. Bashford T. Il.
Jones, j. II: Roberts, II. b. Mitchell, f. Groyenor;
3: Church FalrsnTheir Use and Abuse, f. A.
Bragdon, N. Q. Pendexter, A. Turner. II. Sander
Faith OF Cod (by Rev. A. b. SIMPSON,, H. f. A.
Patterson, H.Chase, B. Freeman, j. M. Woodbury.,